Labour choose West Norfolk candidate

Jo Rust is talking about her positive experience of a gastric band and losing 90 per cent of her stomach following a freak problem. ENGANL00120130520084804

Published:18:11Tuesday 22 July 2014

Trades union activist Jo Rust has been chosen as the Labour Party candidate to fight next year’s general election in North West Norfolk.

The selection meeting on Saturday at St Augustines Healthy Living Centre chose her ahead of two others, West Norfolk borough councillor John Collop and Mike Sands, from Norwich.

Labour came a poor third to Conservative victor Henry Bellingham in 2010, nearly 20,000 votes behind in the poll. A disastrous campaign with Leicester councillor Manish Sood saw them poll a mere 6,000 votes as they trailed in behind the Liberal Democrats

But the seat was held by Labour in 1997 when George Turner unseated Mr Bellingham and Ms Rust, who works for the trade union Unison and lives in Lynn, said she intended once again to pose a real alternative for voters.

In a letter to the Lynn News after her triumph, Ms Rust said: “While people might not always agree with my opinions they do at least know that i’m working hard to make a difference.

“I look forward to getting out and talking directly with people about why a vote for me next year is a vote worth going out to make.”